From: V. Rahul Chandra (vrccan_at_gmail.com)
Date: Fri Feb 29 2008 - 02:06:23 PST
======== “The Calm before the Storm” Continued from Taylor’s “111” ======== Location: USS PATRIOT Stardate: 2424 [2.8] 0229.0347 Scene: Sickbay “Thank you for your help Commander,” Dr. Dugan said, looking gratefully at her new Executive Officer. Jeff looked over at her from where he was mending a sprained ankle and smiled. “No problem doctor,” he said. “After all, us medical types need to stick together. Especially when understaffed.” Dugan returned the smile, but refrained from commenting as she finished mending one of the marines. There hadn’t been a lot of injuries amongst the personnel that had escaped from the ship and aside from Catherine and a few of the marines, they had largely been discharged from sickbay with both Dugan and Gorman working quickly. Tam had been one of the first to be cleared and she had helped as well, her medical experience allowing for three autonomous workers that were able to clear through the shuttle occupants in record time. Jeff’s head shot up at the sound of the sickbay doors opening and his expression didn’t change at the sight of the PATRIOT’s Commanding Officer. He’d been expecting Kenta for some time now and the man’s presence in sickbay did not surprise him in the last. “Report,” Kenta said, coming up to the Executive Officer. “No changelings sir,” Gorman replied. “We were able to confirm the results that they got on the shuttle after killing that changeling. We are about to discharge the final two marines and once that is done Dr. Dugan will keep Lt. Jade for observation for a few hours as well as treat the Colonel when he arrives.” “Good work,” Kenta said, directing his comment to all three officers, before turning to the prone form of the intelligence officer laid out on the biobed. “What’s her status?” he asked. “Better than expected,” Dugan replied, walking up to Catherine’s biobed. “I never seem to get used to saying that, but in her case it’s a constant truism. Sedating her wasn’t easy and we only did it over her protestations to make working on her injuries easier.” “How long will she be out?” Kenta asked. “Well,” Dugan said. “I was able to repair all the bruises and broken bones, but she’s still going to be very tender when she wakes up. Ideally, I’d like to keep her off her feet for a few days, but given the situation I can release her in a few hours. The medics were able to shore up enough of her injuries quickly enough that collateral damage to her organs was minimal.” Ben nodded his approval. “Very well doctor,” he said. “Have her report to the bridge when she is released.” “Aye sir,” Dugan said, before turning back to the biobed. ============ Location: DOMINION BATTLESHIP Scene: Main Bridge The Vorta rushed onto the bridge and up to the station of the Third. “Follow the signal immediately!” he cried. “The signal disappeared just a few moments ago sir,” the Third answered as the First emerged onto the bridge. “I can take us to the previous coordinates if you wish.” The Vorta staggered back, before his eyes closed and his head bowed. “Then the Founder is dead,” he said. “The Founder?” the First asked. The Vorta turned to the man with a disgusted look on his face. “You are pathetic!” he spat, turning to the Second. “Kill him.” “Yes sir,” the Jem’Hadar replied, taking his disruptor rifle and firing at the First. When the beam hit the Jem’Hadar soldier, it vaporized him in less than a second. “You are the new First,” the Vorta informed the Second. “Do not displease me in the way the previous First did.” “I shall conduct my duty to your approval and that of the Founders,” the new First answered. “Good,” the Vorta answered. “Continue to monitor for another signal similar to the first. As soon as that signal appears, head for it. Until then, remain at the edge of the nebula.” “As you wish sir,” the First answered. ============= Location: USS PATRIOT Scene: Corridor -> Turbolift Kenta had left sickbay shortly after the impromptu conference and it was only several minutes later after everything had been wrapped up that Ensign Tam and Lieutenant Commander Gorman had followed suit. “So,” Tam said as the two of them walked along the corridor towards the turbolift. “How are you handling the adjustment to the duties of Executive Officer?” “So far so good,” Jeff answered with a sidelong glance at the Counsellor. “I’m not really as new to the position as people might think. I’ve filled in for other from time to time in a couple of my other postings.” “But this is the first time you’ve officially held the position?” Tam asked. “Yes,” Jeff answered. “First time.” The two walked in silence for a few moments, before Niala started another thread of conversation. “I understand that you know Dr. Clarkson quite well.” “Pretty well,” Jeff agreed with a nod of his head. “We spent a lot of time together at the academy.” “And how has his disappearance struck you?” Jeff glanced sidelong at her again, this time with a slight smile on his face. “Should I regularly expect to be counselled in this manner?” he asked. Tam returned the smile. “Maybe,” she said. “Depends on how often you seem to need it.” “Do I seem like I need it now?” Jeff asked as the two of them boarded the turbolift and called out their destinations. “No,” Tam admitted. “But I thought I’d try anyway.” Jeff chuckled. “At least you’re honest,” he said, before thinking for a moment and then answering. “I’m not at the point yet where I’m really thinking that we’re not getting him back. It’s not Starfleet policy to abandon one of its own, so I’m sure that Captain Kenta will have a rescue effort as part of the final plan, one way or another.” “He probably will,” Tam agreed. =========== Time Index: A few hours later Scene: Main Bridge Catherine stepped onto the bridge, walking around to where Jeff was seated in the command chair. “Lieutenant Jade reporting as ordered sir,” she said. Jeff looked up from the displays he’d been manipulating in his chair to look at the woman. “That was an impressive recovery Lieutenant,” he said, indicating the chair next to him. “Have a seat.” As Catherine followed his instructions, Jeff tapped his comm. Badge. “Bridge to Captain Kenta,” he said. “Lieutenant Jade has followed your orders in regards to reporting to the bridge.” [[Acknowledged Commander,]] came the reply. [[Call a staff meeting for thirty minutes from now.]] “Aye sir,” Jeff replied, before closing the comm. Link and proceeding to follow the instructions of the PATRIOT’s Commanding Officer. “So,” he said when he was done. “How many did you win?” “Excuse me sir?” Catherine asked, momentarily lost by the question. “Most of the team that returned had light injuries,” Jeff said. “And you had the living daylights pounded out of you. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what happened down on the planet. So, how many did you win?” In spite of her immediate concern for her husband, Catherine let out a small smile. “Six,” she said. “The last one was against the First.” Jeff whistled as he tapped a few more buttons on his console. “Nice,” he said. “Who’s going back to rescue Daniel?” Catherine asked suddenly. Jeff looked up at her from the display in front of him. “I don’t know yet,” he admitted. “Captain Kenta will reveal that at the briefing.” “We should have the briefing now!” Catherine blurted. “It might be too late in thirty minutes!” “Relax,” Jeff replied. “That battleship isn’t going anywhere. And as long as they haven’t caught us, the Dominion isn’t going to do anything to Daniel but lock him up.” “Are you sure about that?” Catherine asked. “I’m not sure of anything,” Jeff answered. “But he’s my friend as well as your husband. Trust me when I say I wouldn’t be this calm if I didn’t believe what I just said strongly.” Catherine nodded slowly. “I believe you,” she said. Jeff smiled, before going back to his tactical readouts. A few moments later he said, “It’s never easy sitting around and waiting while a loved one is in harms way. If it means anything, I get the exact same feeling about my wife every time we part company.” Catherine looked over at Jeff and wasn’t entirely sure that she wanted to get involved in this conversation just yet. The memory of their first conversation swept through her mind at that moment and she wasn’t entirely sure yet that she trusted the Executive Officer. So, instead of replying, she remained silent and Jeff continued to work on the readouts from the arm display on his chair. ========== Time Index: 30 minutes later Scene: Observation Lounge “Okay folks,” Kenta said, leaning on the desk and looking around the table at the assembled senior staff. “Here’s the plan. We’re going to launch all four runabouts and all ten fighters and engage the battleship on multiple fronts.” “Commander Gorman will be in command of the STAR RIDER and Lieutenant Corwin will be in command of the BOSPHORUS. Lieutenant Corwin will find a pilot for the MACKENZIE and the COUNTERSTRIKE will operate with its normal marine compliment. Commander Gorman will be in charge of assigning additional personnel to the STAR RIDER, MACKENZIE and BOSPHORUS in order to bring their crews to acceptable levels.” “The primary goal of the fighters and runabouts is to manoeuvre the battleship into a tactical position where the PATRIOT is between them and the planet. When that happens, the PATRIOT will launch all of her shuttles.” “Including the cargo shuttles?” Jeff asked. “Yes,” Kenta said. “In a pinch, they’ll be able to accommodate a few people each. The shuttles goal is to run like hell to the planet, rescue the prisoners trapped there and then run like hell back to the PATRIOT. The PATRIOT will attempt to remain in between the planet and the battleship at all times so that if worse comes to worst we can drop the reverse side shielding and beam everyone off the shuttles before they are attacked.” “And what about Daniel?” Catherine asked. Kenta looked at the intelligence officer. “There will be multiple vectors of assault on the battleship from the runabouts and this ship,” he said. “With any luck, we’ll be able to punch a hole in a part of their shielding long enough that one of the ships can beam the Major off the battleship.” “And what happens if and when we get everyone back?” Corwin asked. “How do we disengage?” Kenta shook his head slightly. “We’ll deal with that problem when we get to it,” he said. ========== NRPG: And we move ever closer to the mission’s resolution! Okay, so we have a plan for rescuing those on the planet (sort of) and a plan to get Daniel back (sort of). If anyone wants to post preparations for this daring plan, feel free to go right ahead! Furthermore, if anyone wants to post part or all of the resolution of the plan, feel free to go right ahead! Just don’t kill any PC or pNPC off! ;) I’ll be posting the closer either Sunday or Monday. ========== Rahul Chandra <vrccan_at_gmail.com> Playing… Lieutenant Commander Jeffrey Gorman, MD Executive Officer USS PATRIOT & Major Daniel Clarkson, MD Marine Executive Officer USS PATRIOT No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.21.1/1302 - Release Date: 27/02/2008 4:34 PM From HyperNews_at_youth.net
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